Abbot Elementary PTO Blog

Abbot Elementary School is a small public school of around 300 students on the northwest side of the Ann Arbor Public Schools district in Ann Arbor, Mich. It has an active Parent Teacher Organization. Learn about our not-for-profit work and fundraising efforts here.

Saturday, September 23, 2017

When Noel Winkler, grandma of an Abbot Elementary student, realized her 71st birthday would fall on the same day as the 49th Annual Abbot Elementary Run-a-Thon, she decided to join the fundraiser. Noel is walking 50 laps today and will be raising $100 for the Abbot PTO.

Quite by accident, her race number turned out to be 71, making the story even more incredible.

In addition to being an Abbot grandma, Noel is a retired Ann Arbor Public Schools teacher. She taught at Mack and Forsythe.

If you see Noel walking today, please make sure to thank her and say happy birthday!

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

The 49th Annual Abbot Run-A-Thon is Saturday, September 23rd from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine.

The Run-A-Thon is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year and helps support all that the PTO provides for the classrooms and students at Abbot, including field trips, in-school enrichment programs, supplies, teaching resources and improvements to the school like our wildlife habitat, gardens and our hallway murals.

Just as importantly, it is a lot of fun, it lets our community come together, and it lets our students play a big role in supporting their school.

Before Run-a-Thon, students collect flat or per lap pledges. Then they earn ribbons, medallions and trophies for running or walking certain numbers of laps (based on grade level). The class with the highest percentage participation wins a pizza party and students who have five sponsors and at least $25 in collected pledges will be entered in a drawing for prizes at the Run-A-Thon assembly.

Friends and family can walk or run along with students or cheer them on from the sidelines. Our concession stand with bagels, donuts, fruit, hot and cold beverages and pizza will be open during the entire event (pizza available starting at 11 a.m.) so families can buy food there and/or pack a picnic lunch. Participants can stop, leave and come back as much as they want throughout the day.

Contact Committee Chair Lindsay Pawlowski with any questions at lpawlows@gmail.com. If you own a business and want to support the event with a business donation, please contact Lindsay as well to learn more about how we promote our business sponsors at the event, online and through social media.

What Parents Can Do to Help

Volunteer: We have lots of jobs and times to suit almost any interest or schedule. Count laps, check in runners, work the concession stand, or hand out water. Many jobs and shifts are available between 8:00 a.m. and 5 p.m. Please see the sign-up at this website.Recycle Trophies: This is our green initiative. As kids grow older, some of the Run-a-Thon trophies they collected as elementary school students may end up in our landfills. Don't toss them, recycle. Our engraver will refurbish old trophies turned into the office ahead of the event and inscribe them with a new name.

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

The 48th Annual Abbot Run-A-Thon is Saturday, October 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine.

The Run-A-Thon is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year and helps support all that the PTO provides for the classrooms and students at Abbot, including field trips, in-school enrichment programs, supplies, teaching resources and improvements to the school like our wildlife habitat, gardens and our hallway murals.

Just as importantly, it is a lot of fun, it lets our community come together, and it lets our students play a big role in supporting their school.

Before Run-a-Thon, students collect flat or per lap pledges. Then they earn ribbons, medallions and trophies for running or walking certain numbers of laps (based on grade level). The class with the highest percentage participation wins a pizza party and students who have five sponsors and at least $25 in collected pledges will be entered in a drawing for prizes at the Run-A-Thon assembly.

Friends and family can walk or run along with students or cheer them on from the sidelines. Our concession stand with bagels, donuts, fruit, hot and cold beverages and pizza will be open during the entire event (pizza available starting at 11 a.m.) so families can buy food there and/or pack a picnic lunch. Participants can stop, leave and come back as much as they want throughout the day.

Contact Committee Chair Lindsey Pawlowski with any questions at lpawlows@gmail.com. If you own a business and want to support the event with a business donation, please contact Lindsey as well to learn more about how we promote our business sponsors at the event, online and through social media.

What Parents Can Do to Help

Volunteer: We have lots of jobs and times to suit almost any interest or schedule. Count laps, check in runners, work the concession stand, or hand out water. Many jobs and shifts are available between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Please email Lindsey when you are available and she will find something fun for you to do.Recycle Trophies: This is our green initiative. As kids grow older, some of the Run-a-Thon trophies they collected as elementary school students may end up in our landfills. Don't toss them, recycle. Our engraver will refurbish old trophies turned into the office ahead of the event and inscribe them with a new name.

Abbot Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization

All dads, moms, grandparents and other guardians of Abbot students, as well as our principal and teachers, are members of the Abbot Parent Teacher Organization. As PTO members, we contribute to our school by volunteering in the classroom, sponsoring field trips and assemblies, raising funds for school improvements, and working with teachers, staff and each other to enhance the learning environment at Abbot.